A CONTROVERSIAL wind farm development, thrown out by Denbighshire’s planners, has been resurrected by a High Court judge.

The scheme at Gorsedd Bran, Nantglyn, was refused after concerns over noise and visual impact were raised.

But last night, Mr Justice Wyn Williams sent Tegni Cymru Cyf’s proposals back for reconsideration, saying the decision-making process was flawed.

The firm lost an appeal after submitting proposals to build 13 turbines of 125m height on an upland area within Clocaenog Forest.

Planning permission was refused on the basis that the wind farm would blight the landscape and affect views across the Denbigh Moors towards Snowdonia from the Clwydian Hills and Offa’s Dyke National Trail.

It was also feared that noise levels would have an adverse affect on the community of Nantglyn.

Yesterday, the top judge overturned the council’s refusal of planning consent on the grounds that the inspector who investigated the noise impact of the site, didn’t give sufficient reasons for reaching the decision that sound levels generated would be unacceptable.

Giving his judgement in the High Court at Birmingham, he said: “Tegni Cymru Cyf seek an order quashing a decision dated November 18 2009 made by an inspector duly appointed by Denbighshire Council whereby he dismissed the claimant’s appeal against the council’s refusal to grant planning permission for what is known, in summary, as a wind farm.

He added: “The primary ground of challenge is that the inspector reached conclusions about the visual impact of the wind farm and the noise associated with its operation which no reasonable inspector would have reached.

“Additionally, however, the claimant alleges that the inspector’s decision should be quashed because he failed to give sufficient reasons for his conclusions upon important issues.”

The judge concluded that the inspector “erred in law in at least one important respect,” and said: “In my judgement, he failed to provide adequate reasons for his conclusion that the noise impact of the proposed development was unacceptable.”

But last night, locals pledged to continue in the battle to save their scenery.

Ian Gardner said he wasn’t disheartened by the judge’s decision but asked where it leaves the community, adding: “The people of Nantglyn are ready to fight to defend their humanity once again.”

A council spokesman said: “Denbighshire Council will be seeking its own advice on the judgement and will be waiting to see what action, if any, Welsh Assembly Government ministers will be taking following the judgement in this case.”

Clwyd West AM, Darren Millar said: “This is a nightmare scenario for those people who campaigned so hard to see this wind farm project scrapped and it’s a knock for residents in the area around the proposed development, the vast majority of whom are opposed to yet another wind farm in the locality.”